Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2006 19:54:22 -0700
Reply-To: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Finally, I spotted a Westy in my own driveway.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
And it’s a beauty! An ’87 GL full camper in charcoal
grey with grey interior, it’s a van I’ve been seeing
in town for a few years and which I have long admired.
I never spoke with the owner or left a note, but
while on the way to do some errand last Sunday I saw
it parked on a main thoroughfare with a For Sale sign
in the kitchen window. I bounced in my seat and said,
“She’s selling it,” and swooped to the curb for a
look.
For a van in such good shape and so obviously well
cared for, it seemed unlikely that I’d be the first
person to call about it, but I was. The initial
inspection showed a van in great condition with a
spotless interior, no dents or scrapes, no rust and no
leaks. A test drive, my first ride in a Vanagon,
revealed smooth but leisurely 4-speed performance that
will require a change in my approach to driving, but
I’ll adjust.
It’s not perfect; the A/C needs to be charged, the
canvas has a couple of worn spots, and the hatch
struts require broomstick assistance, but there are
some thoughtful mods like the closet door mod to clear
the rear table, and the like. The pre-buy inspection
revealed green coolant instead of blue, and there’s an
intermittent no-start issue that will require further
diagnosis, but overall I don’t think there’s a better
van out there for the money; certainly not for a van
that moved from across town to within 3 blocks of my
house before going on sale. It came to find me. How
could I not buy it?
The seller has owned it since ’92 and she bought it
with 23K miles. The odometer is broken but her
meticulous records in a spiral-bound “life book”
document every fill up, every repair, probably every
strange noise. The sale includes a Bentley manual and
every record since new, and the van has all screens
and even the Munchkin ice cube trays. My wife, who
has been a witness to the development of this Vanagon
fascination for the last few years, is even beginning
to be interested in it herself, planning what supplies
and accoutrements will fit where.
At this point I’d like to thank everyone on this list
for all the wisdom you’ve shared, which has permitted
me to know what to look for and make what I’m sure is
a good choice on my first Vanagon purchase. I’m sure
I’ll have plenty more questions as the miles and days
of Westy ownership accumulate. We’ll see you out
there.
Stephen & Karen
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